Things To Do & Local Recommendations
Food scene
Big Blues Que
Sam has mastered the art of smoking meat & Gail’s baked beans are best! We have yet to find a single thing that isn’t good to eat but our personal favorites are their loaded baked potatoes & ribs. Get there early! You won’t be disappointed.
Larry’s House of Cakes
Larry’s pink cookies & cupcakes with buttercream icing are notorious in this area. If you are a chocolate lover, their German chocolate cake is delicious & their brownies are to die for! If you want the best cream horn of your life, you better get there when they open because they sell out pretty quick. Their Italian Cream Cake & Coconut Pecan Coolies are amazing as well.
Walt’s Pizza & Restaurant
Walt’s is more than just a pizza place as they serve a wide variety of items beyond Italian foods. They grill a mean steak & their cedar planked salmon is really good as well. If it’s pizza that you are longing for, try their infamous double decker. Omgoodness… so good!
Bennie’s Italian Foods
You won’t be able to find a tastier Italian beef sandwich (don’t forget to add the mozzarella cheese on it) or amazing pasta dishes in this area. Another favorite is their homemade, garlic, salad dressing.
Mackie’s Pizza
Mackie’s has the very best THIN pizza in the area. It’s crispy on the bottom but not overdone.
Fujiyama Japanese Steakhouse
If you like Hibachi grills, this is the place. Your dinner is prepared right in front of you, while the chef entertains with his cooking prowess. Their sushi is also highly recommended.
Giant City Lodge
Nestled in Giant City State Park, the Lodge offers family-style dining… their specialty is fried chicken and it comes with all the fixins… green beans, corn, rolls… As a bonus, the lounge area of the lodge is rustic & beautiful.
E’Town River Restaurant
Serving locally caught river fish, this seasonal, little restaurant literally floats along the bank of the Ohio River. There is both indoor & outdoor dining available. Nature has a way of impacting our best laid plans & several factors such as low/high water levels, outdoor temperatures, etc. influence their hours of operation. While the the scenic drive is a pleasant one, be sure they are open before leaving.
Chocolate Factory
Definitely worth the drive, the Chocolate Factory offers a wide variety of chocolate treats: truffles, caramels, haystacks, covered pretzels & peppermint sticks, but you should see the things they can create out of chocolate in their novelty designs. And, the ice cream… oh my! Yummy!
Outdoor Activities
Created in 1962 by damming the south fork of the Saline River, the Southern Illinois Power Cooperative gifted this 2300 acre lake to the state of Illinois. All kinds of water activities are available there: water skiing, water boarding, jet skiing, boating, tubing, swimming, fishing (Large Mouth Bass, Stripped Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, & Channel Catfish). There are three marinas on the lake (Egyptian Hills, Pyramid Acres, & Mack’s Marina) where you can rent boats & gear, refuel & grab snacks.
Sightseeing
